The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Bihar State Road Construction Corporation - Bihar state India
Project type : Bridge construction
Project name : Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge
Date : Jun 2023
Cost : $208M USD
Synopsis :
Humans have been building bridges for millennia and there are of course inherent risks. Today those risks are well understood and modern engineering helps...
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Failed Project
Scottish Ferries Fiasco
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: CalMac Ferries Ltd
Project type : Construction of two new ferries
Date : Sep 2022
Cost : £340 million
Synopsis :
The services provided by state owned ferry operator CalMac Ferries Ltd sustain communities on 22 of Scotland’s islands. To ensure they continue to meet stakeholder needs CalMac’s fleet renewal program ordered two new boats in 20...
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Quibi
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Quibi – USA
Project type : Video streaming service
Date : Dec 2020
Cost : $1B estimated loss (potentially some cost recovery through subsequent sale of assets)
Synopsis :
A video-streaming start-up backed by Hollywood and Silicon Valley elites. With access to a vast amount of money and an open door to the world's top talent, Quibi looked...
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Super-League Soccer
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Super League
Project type : Establishment of a new professional sports league
Project name : Super League
Date : Apr 2021
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
The public announcement of a new project can be a significant milestone. It’s an opportunity to draw media attention and generate some buzz about an upcoming product. When done well it leaves...
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F-35 Lightning II
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: US Military
Project type : Development of a multi-role fighter aircraft and associated systems
Project name : F-35 Lightning II
Date : Jan 2021
Cost : $1.7T
Synopsis :
When procuring defense systems one of the key strategic decisions needing to be made comes down to 'quantity' versus 'quality'. Should you buy a smaller number of super h...
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The Dyson Electric Car
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Dyson Ltd – UK
Project type : Development of an electric car
Project name : The Dyson
Date : Oct 2019
Cost : £500M
Synopsis :
The future of transportation is here to see and it is of course electric! As a result, the development of electric cars has been a growth area for the past ten years and the pace of change continues to grow.
That...
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Great Western Mainline Electrification
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Network Rail – UK
Project type : Rail infrastructure upgrade
Project name : Great Western Mainline electrification project
Date : Jan 2020
Cost : £2B cost overrun, plus reduced scope
Synopsis :
The electrification of the world's transportation infrastructure is a growing focus in many countries. Electrification allows the energy intensive i...
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Police Scotland
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Scottish Police Authority – UK
Project type : Policing information management system
Project name : i6
Date : Mar 2017
Cost : £200m lost opportunity
Synopsis :
While I often write about the direct impacts failed projects have on an organization it is also worth remember that each failed project is an investment that failed to yield its inte...
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Iowa Caucus
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Democratic Party of Iowa – USA
Project type : Election vote tally system
Date : Feb 2020
Cost : A major embarrassment
Synopsis :
Looking for a way to embarrass yourself on election night - There's an app for that!
With the world watching, the first tentative steps towards America's November 2020 Presidential election were taken in the school hall...
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London City – Garden Bridge
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Garden Bridge Trust – UK
Project type : Bridge design & construction
Date : Apr 2017
Cost : £53M (including £43M of public funds)
Synopsis :
New York has its 'High Line', Seoul has its 'Sky Garden', Paris has its 'Promenade Plantée' and London nearly had it's 'Garden Bridge'. Elevated, elongated city parks are a draw for both tourists and locals alike...
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